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What Extent Did The Japanese Military Uphold The Bushido Code During WWII

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To what extent did the Japanese Military uphold the Bushido Code during WWII? The Japanese Military consistently upheld the Bushido Code while fighting in the Second World War. This heavy cultural belief in honour dramatically changed the course of the war for both Japanese and American lives. This essay will look at battles such as the Leyte Gulf where Japan first used Kamikaze pilots and planes, the story of Lieutenant Hiroo Onoda, who refused to surrender even 27 years after the war had ended, and, tales of Japanese prisoners of war who committed suicide rather than being recaptured to POW camps. Evidently showing how the Bushido values were heavily woven into Japanese society and therefore military, impacting the course of WWII exceedingly. …show more content…

Lieutenant Onoda was stationed on an island in the Philippines called Lubang and forced to retreat into the jungle by US attack. Many of the other men in his troop were killed, only himself and 2 others remained. After the war had ended, leaflets were dropped, but they dismissed them as fakes. Many people tried to tell them to return home, and that the war had ended but Onoda and his comrades thought it was just a ploy to trick them into leaving. Eventually the 2 other men died, leaving Onoda alone in the Philippine jungle. Refusing to believe that the war had ended, he continued fighting for 27 years. In 1974, a Japanese explorer stumbled across Onoda in the jungle. The explorer convinced him to surrender only if his former commanding officer could be brought to Lubang to officially relieve him of his duties. Two months later, Onoda’s 27 year long war was over. This extraordinary tale underscores the deep influence of the Bushido code on soldiers like Onoda, whose dedication, loyalty, and honour remained constant, even in the face of extreme adversity. Balmont, 2022

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